AIPY FAQ

Q: How do I install without root permission?

To resolve dependencies using setuptools, but without root access, you'll need to follow the instructions on their website, and apply them to each line in install_dependencies.sh

Once dependencies have been solved, run the following command:

python setup.py install --install-lib "module_dir" --install-scripts "scripts_dir"

where "module_dir" and "scripts_dir" are 2 directories you define. "module_dir" will hold the python module for the package you install, and "scripts_dir" will hold any scripts associated with the package. If you take this second route, you should also run (for bash)

export PYTHONPATH="module_dir"

so that python can find the modules. You should also add "scripts_dir" to your path:

export PATH=$PATH:"scripts_dir"

To avoid having to type these lines every time you open a console, add them to your .bashrc file.

Q: How do I know AIPY installed correctly?

Download this UV file, and unzip it with:

compress_uv.py -x test.uv.tar.bz2

Then try:

plot_uv.py -p yy test.uv

You should see:

If you see flat red inside the plots, see the next FAQ. Finally, run:

fit_dly_pos.py -c Sun -x 30 -p x,y,z test.uv

It should list parameters and changing values, with various base scores. Ctrl+C to exit. Okay, it works!

Q: When I plot with plot_uv.py, I get a graph, but the data is a solid color. What's wrong?

This is a problem with matplotlib not interfacing corretly to your window. Try the following:

import pylab ; pylab.imshow([[0,1],[3,4]]) ; pylab.show()

If you don't see:

then matplotlib screwed up, and you should reinstall it. This time, edit the setup.py file in matplotlib by changing "BUILD_TKAGG" to 1, and "BUILD_GTK", "BUILD_GTKAGG", and "BUILD_WINDOWING" to 0. If you don't get a window at all, make sure Tcl/Tk is installed on your system, and that the source for Tk is also available (if using linux, try "yum tk-devel").